NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College volleyball team dropped a three-set decision to Marist in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Hynes Center. The Gaels (8-5, 2-1 MAAC) opened up their 2010 home schedule with the defeat.

Marist (6-9, 1-2 MAAC) took advantage of an 8-1 start and led wire-to-wire in the first set. Iona came back from eight points down to cut the margin to 23-20 but couldn't get any closer in the 25-21 defeat. In set two, the Red Foxes went on a 6-0 run with the score tied at 8-8. Again the Gaels cut the margin to just three at 23-20 but the visitors took the final two points in the 25-20 set win. Marist won the final set 26-24, scoring the final two points after freshman OH Alicja Pawelec knotted the score at 24-all.

Sophomore OH Theresa Harvey had eight kills to lead the Gaels. Pawelec added seven and senior RS Bethany Schornack had five in the loss. Schornack added eight digs and had an assisted black. Senior MB Colleen Genett hit 4-of-10 with a team best five blocks. Iona had 11 team blocks in the three sets with Harvey, senior MB Rachel Whitten and sophomore Nicole Tamburri each recording four. Tamburri led with 20 assists after coming on midway through the first set. Senior libero Allison Nieters had 16 digs in the three sets.

Marist rookie Grace Hill had 16 kills and 14 digs to lead her team in the win.

The Gaels are back in action at home vs. Manhattan tomorrow at 2:00 pm. The Lady Jaspers come to New Rochelle after a five-set loss to Fairfield that snapped their six-match winning streak.